Great chemistry helps UCLA women do the dirty work

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UCLA women’s basketball coach Cori Close, right, knows when the team opens the NCAA Tournament this weekend she can turn to Monique Billings, center, and Jordin Canada to lead a team that isn’t afraid to do the little things it takes to win. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

LOS ANGELES – One reason why the UCLA women’s basketball team is 23-8 is because it has a solid offense that averages 73.9 points. But defense, and all that it entails, is probably more responsible.

The Bruins allow only 64 points. They outrebound opponents by an average of 2.5. They harass teams into 17.5 turnovers per game while committing only 12.1, they average 10.2 steals to just 6.6 for their opponents and they average 5.0 blocked shots while giving up 2.7.

It’s tough to get teams to buy into doing all those little things, because they’re not as sexy as a 3-point basket or a sweet dribble-drive and dazzling finish. Not for fourth-seeded UCLA, which will take on No. 13 Boise State (25-7) on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Pauley Pavilion (ESPN2).

No. 5 Texas A & M (21-11) and No. 12 Penn (22-7) will tangle after the UCLA-Boise State game, about 6 p.m., with the winners playing Monday for a berth in the Sweet Sixteen.

According to sixth-year Bruins coach Cori Close and her players, a tremendous team chemistry is why the team just loves doing the dirty work.

“Yes, of course, on and off the court,” said junior point guard Jordin Canada, who averages 18 points, 6.5 assists and 2.5 steals – all team-highs – and 5.3 rebounds. “We have a lot of team bonding off the court and that helps us get to know each other more, which makes for a better team on the court.

“During practice, we fight for each other and that’s what has built our team chemistry over the years.”

According to Close, “Chemistry is everything.”

It helps with execution.

“Absolutely,” said Close, who a season ago led the Bruins to the program’s first Sweet Sixteen appearance since 1999. “I mean, you’re in essence, saying, ‘We’re going to war together. For the next two hours, we are putting ourselves out on the line and it’s going to be hard, it’s going to be difficult, things aren’t going to go our way.’

“And if you have a really strong chemistry, you just have a confidence about you that, ‘My teammate’s got my back.’”

Close made sure her point was properly received.

“I think sometimes when you say team chemistry, you think, ‘Oh, that just means they like each other,’ like it’s tea and crumpets or something,” she said. “Our chemistry is not about tea and crumpets. It’s not any Kumbaya, campfire thing.

“It’s about, ‘I’m committed to you. You’re my sister and I’ve done the work off the court to know you, I’ve done the work to serve you as your teammate.’ It’s sacrificial. And there’s a commitment level.”

Junior forward Monique Billings said her team’s do-it-all credo is a sign of maturity. She gave an example of how it works.

“People aren’t afraid to challenge each other and just really get in each other’s faces about what needs to happen,” she said. “If I mess up on defense, if I’m not handling my assignment, Kari (Korver) is going to come up to me and say, ‘Mo, get yourself together. This isn’t you.’

“And I’m going to say, ‘OK,’ because I trust her and she trusts me.”

Korver, a senior guard, leads the team in 3-point baskets with 62. But again, this team talks about more than its offense.

“We talk about passion plays a lot, which is just 50-50 balls, deflections, just trying to make plays that don’t come up on the stat sheet,” Korver said. “And, hopefully, those are going to be the things that lead to points.”